I think I have finally found the cause of all our problems in projects! Hold on! This is gonna be big! The reason is where nobody has looked. Right at the feet of you. The reason is simply the word Project! That's it!
When I say project - ziiiip zaaaaap, then you have immediately a picture of a project in your brains, but do we have the same? and is in fact one the right image or a real definition?
There are lots of definitions - some are even standards (eg. Here at PMI), but common to them all is that they all come from or fit a certain age - the so-called Modern Social Period - the period governed by reason and knowledge.
I think many today feel that reason and knowledge is no longer the most important thing in projects now a day. We are in the Postmodern Social Period - the period ruled by discourse and rhetoric. An appropriate definition of project nowadays might be:
A discourse of legitimation and an arena for social games and power tests. The project is an instrument of powerful stakeholders.
Yes, it was a little fluffy. Back on earth one could just have fun with defining success in projects? is it:
• process terms: managed within time, quality and resources?
• product-wise: it can be used and they are happy about it?
• business: was it worth it?
- We are allready three completely different views of projects. So do not come here and say that the word project makes sense!
So what I'm trying to say is that the word project is a too poor word - and therefore it is dangerous - and therefore we must find another or a different way of talking about 'projects' further on.
There are great prizes for the winner!
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